Optical system mounts
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorsDavis Lange, Luke N. Asselin, Christopher William Helmke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical system mount arrangement includes a stop, a mount for an optical element, and an electromagnet. The mount has a first position and a second position, the mount abutting the stop in the first position and the mount spaced apart from the stop in the second position. The electromagnet is fixed relative to the stop and is arranged to exert a holding force when the mount is in the first position. Optical systems, vehicles carrying optical systems, and methods moving optical elements in optical systems are also described.
Claims16
An optical system mount arrangement, comprising:
- a stop;
- a mount for an optical element having a first position and a second position, the mount abutting the stop in the first position, the mount spaced apart from the stop in the second position;
- an electromagnet fixed relative to the stop configured and adapted to exert a holding force when the mount is in the first position;
- a drive motor operatively connected to the mount for movement between the first and second positions;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the drive motor and the electromagnet, wherein the controller includes machine readable instructions configured to:
- move the mount to the first position;
- exert a holding force on the mount with the electromagnet in the first position;
- de-energize the electromagnet;
- and
- move the mount from the first position to the second position,
- wherein the electromagnet is de-energized prior to moving the mount from the first position to the second position.
A method a preventing movement of an optical element in an optical system, comprising magnetically attracting a movable mount on which the optical element is fixed toward a stop with magnetic force using a controller, wherein the controller is operatively connected to a drive motor and an electromagnet, wherein the controller includes machine readable instructions configured to:
- move the mount to the first position and exert a holding force on the mount with the electromagnet in the first position.
A method of moving an optical element in an optical system, comprising:
- at an optical system mount arrangement including a post with a stop, a mount for an optical element having a first position and a second position, the mount abutting the stop in the first position, the mount spaced apart from the post in the second position, an electromagnet fixed to the post, a drive motor operatively connected to the mount for movement between the first and second positions, and a controller operatively connected to the drive motor and the electromagnet, via the controller;
- moving the mount to the first position;
- exerting a holding force on the mount with the electromagnet;
- de-energizing the electromagnet;
- and
- moving the mount from the first position to the second position, wherein the electromagnet is de-energized prior to moving the mount from the first position to the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.